The Wild, looking to clear cap space this offseason, has placed veteran Matt Cooke on waivers. If he clears, the next route would be a buyout.

Cooke, 36, who had an injury-ravaged season and was limited to only 29 regular-season games and seven playoff games, has one more year left on his contract at a $2.5 million cap hit with a $3 million salary.

Finally, I am sure that the Colorado Avalanche fans will be ecstatic with this move as well. Finally, Goon's World would like to wish Cookie well in his next endeavor. Maybe the Pittsburgh Penguins will pick him up off waivers? Probably not though.

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

I suppose there's not a lot of people that are going to feel sorry for Minnesota Wild forward Matt Cook. I also don't blame them, but this isn't a clean hit at all. This is a dirty knee-to-knee leg check.

Wednesday, May 14, 2014

Minnesota Wild forward Erik Haula scored a beautiful goal against the Chicago Blackhawks in game six of the Western Conference Semifinals. The Blackhawks would win the game and series in overtime with a goal from Patrick Kane.

During the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Haula gave us a glimpse of things to come and tells us that the future is very bright for the Minnesota Wild hockey team.

Saturday, May 10, 2014

Good morning… I was looking at my favorite new statistics site [hockeyreference.com] and perusing the Minnesota Wild’s playoff stats. I am sure that like many of your, I was surprised to find out that the much maligned Wild forward Dany Heatley has scored (1g-5a—6pts) and is a +7 in nine playoff games. Seriously, a (+7). That’s not a misprint or a typo. Heater was a (-18) during the regular season. Since returning to the lineup, the former Wisconsin Badger has played decent, and hasn't been the usual turnover factory that he was during the regular season. My guess is that Heatley is trying to impress future suitors when July 5th free agent signing period comes around. Last night, Matt Cooke returned from his league imposed seven-game suspension for his dirty leg check on Tyson Barrie and immediately gave the Wild another dynamic that they lacked while he was gone. Cooke created havoc in the Blackhawks end and assisted on Justin Fontaine’s first period goal. Justin Fontaine's goal in the first period of last night's game was a thing of beauty. Coming into the season, there were a lot of Fontaine doubters that said the former UMD Bulldog would never get much more than a cup of coffee at the NHL level. Well, I think he's surpassed those expectations. Well, through 66 regular season games and seven Stanley Cup Playoff games, the former Bulldog has scored (14g-9a—23pts). I would think that 73 games would classify as more than a cup of coffee.

Last night, I said on twitter, “When you get past all of the extra bravo sierra Matt Cooke is a really good hockey player.” I thought Cooke’s was a game changer last night, and just proved that when he plays hockey, and doesn’t attempt to decapitate people, he’s a very important asset on the ice. It’s obvious that the Wild missed his play. As a fan, you just hope that he can behave himself the rest of the playoffs and stay out of suspension trouble. One of the things that I saw pop up on Twitter last night was that the Wild had six skaters on the ice to open the third period. It's actually pretty obvious that the Wild have way too many on the ice, however, the play went undetected by the on-ice officials. [Here's the link to the video.]

Last night, Wild forward Zach Parise blasted Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane with a stiff, hard, legal check. I told someone this morning, that I thought that Parise had an extra gear last night.

Saturday, April 26, 2014

Detroit Red Wings forward Todd Bertuzzi during a game against the Dallas Stars on December 29, 2010. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

There is a huge firestorm (to put it in a G-rated perspective) over recent acts (and past acts) concerning some current NHL players and how the growing priminence of social media is affecting people's perspectives. Well, let's look at some facts:

Reputation vs. Character

I put this here as a professional courtesy, but.... your reputation isn't your character so much as it is how other people perceive your character to be. Abraham Lincoln used an analogy of a tree and its shadow to define reputation vs. character where the reputation is the shadow and the tree is who you really are (character). It makes sense if you step back and look at it.

However, a big part of human nature is the overwhelming need to be respected, appreciated, and for people to know who you REALLY are. This goes double for public figures like politicians, celebrities, and athletes (especially pro athletes). The problem isn't that these people make mistakes. The problem is that social media enables those who follow these people to let as many as millions of other people know almost instantly. It robs you of context and the ability to get, at times, the benefit of the doubt. Other times, it just further emphasizes who you really are and that your own perspective of yourself isn't entirely accurate.

In the hockey context, recent tweets likened Matt Cooke to a serial killer. This is really rather wrong, and this is coming from someone who dislikes Cooke with a passion. He didn't kill anyone. He does not show the common psychological profiles attributed scientifically with regular killers, let alone serial killers. But then again, people would be quick to point out that this is just an exaggeration meant more to make a point rather than to actually call Cooke a killer. That does not matter in a social media context. What's in text is in text and the reader is apt to interpret it any way the reader likes.

Social Media and You

Facebook and Twitter (and other social media of the present and past) is what you make of it. It's a spectacular way to connect, educate, and get to know people. It's also a great way to stay informed ahead of the fast pace of the world's events at every level of importance. Likewise, it's also the bane of anyone's existance. It can destroy careers and make lives miserable.

I maintain that YOU are ultimately responsible for how you appear in the social media world if you are a public figure. It's a hard lifestyle, but it is the truth. If you play a physical game, you tend to draw the ire of opposing fans, as an example. It's very easy to run with an assumption instead of gaining facts. That's one of the big problems of hacked Twitter accounts, for example.

But when you are a public figure and you go out and do something or say something stupid, you're going to "get it" via everywhere. Sometimes, it is almost funny in a macabre way (see Lindsey Lohan). Other times, it is unfortunate. And other times again, it marks a trend, sometimes one that is hard for friends and family of those who it affects to accept.Matt Cooke's Reputation

Matt Cooke's reputation is garbage. And it should be. Right now, he's like the drunk friend you went out of your way to intervene and get him back on track, to correct his life, and to find a way to once again trust only to watch him purposely and knowingly fall off the wagon in grandiose fashion and now he wants to be taken at his word that it was just a harmless mistake and he won't do it again. You don't go around claiming to be a changed man and cleaned up his game if you are just laying low for a while before doing it again.

Matt Cooke has fooled the NHL for years and he's been given chance after chance after chance. After getting in a lot of trouble (whatever that actually was is all guesswork) that saw him get heat from the NHL and sat down by the Penguins, his team at the time, he seemed to clean up his act. Seemed to.

In truth, Cooke was probably under intense scrutiny for a while and wanted to stay in the NHL so he laid low. He still worked as a professional in other facets but laid low otherwise. He had a good season this year with Minnesota and he had a ton of detractors thinking that he's a changed man. There were many who wanted that to be true (especially Wild fans). That's not the case.

So why does Cooke get all these chances? Why does he get do overs? I realize that a 7 game ban could actually be a season ending suspension, but when is the point that it is enough?

Can he be a changed man? Is it possible?

The answer is yes. And here's proof: #44 for Detroit.... Todd Bertuzzi.

Todd Bertuzzi is, with the exception of maybe Marty McSorley, the man who committed perhaps the worst cheapshot in recent memory. He got a year's suspension, charged with assault (he plead out of it) and will be back in court September 2014 for a civil suit pertaining to the act. Sounds like a thug. Sounds like a criminal right?

He's been suspended a grand total of.... ZERO times since his reinstatement. ZERO. In his first year with Detroit, he actually was among the team leaders in receiving the FEWEST penalty minutes! Is Todd a changed man?

I believe he is. Is he off the hook? Not a chance. Will he be forgiven for his act? Not likely. There will be no Bertuzzi statue in front of the Joe Louis Arena or in Vancouver. But Todd cannot control that.

All he can control is how he acts on the ice. He is who he is. And I severely doubt we'll see him participate in a cheap shot of the likes of Cooke's antics for the remainder of his career. I severely doubt the NHL will be as patient, lenient, and forgiving with Bertuzzi as they have been with Cooke should Bertuzzi commit a cheap illegal act again.

In the end, I think Cooke's only chance at redemption will occur when the league says "You are reinstated after X games suspension without pay. The next gross illegal act you commit will be your last as it will result in a permanent banishment from the National Hockey League." I think then and only then will Cooke truly change.

Friday, April 25, 2014

Here’s a new drinking game, every time Adrian Dater of the Denver Post mentions Matt Cooke’s name, drink.

Yep, Matt Cooke did a bad thing; he blew out an Av’s player’s knee with a dirty leg check. This is fact. This is not up for debate. But I find it funny that a beat writer for a National Hockey League team would make him the focus of every article. Maybe Cooke is in the Av's head, or at least their beat writers.

Adrian Dater, Denver Post -- There are so many other problems hurting the team right now, most having to with injuries. Damn injuries – they always spoil all the fun. Matt Duchene still isn’t ready yet. John Mitchell can’t do much more than just stretches with a long rubber band. He has not attempted to skate since getting hurt at the end of the year.

Of course, no Tyson Barrie anymore. That 6-on-4 at the end sure would have been a good place to use a Barrie, eh? He’s not here anymore, though, because of gutless puke Matt Cooke.

Regardless, the better team won Games 3 and 4. The Avs’ offense was just nowhere to be seen in St. Paul, and the question of whether they can rediscover it in Denver for Game 5 Saturday seems like a very dicey question indeed. We’re still not going to see Duchene and Mitchell, so it’s still a situation of “Gee, sure hope the third and fourth lines can give us something, anything, and we can get those top two lines going again.”

This is about the length of suspension that I thought he would get. Matt Cooke's history was taken into consideration, and as the video said, he has been suspended or fined by the NHL nine previous times. Now, we can only hope that the Cookie Monster has "finally" gotten the message and will not have any more of these moronic brain farts.

After a long day of waiting to hear how the in person meeting went for Matt Cooke today, we now know that he will be out for the next seven games for his knee on knee hit on Avalanche player Tyson Barrie.

Cooke, a player who not many NHL fans like, has had a suspension history that if it were all written down on paper could write a 500 page book. However, he has cut his penalty minutes per game nearly in half over the past couple of seasons, and is attempting to clean up his game.

I think Cooke should have gotten at least 10 games for his knee on knee hit on Barrie. He lead with his knee, I don't care what you say on the speed of the game, still no excuse for leading with the knee, and the defenseless Barrie didn't even see him coming.

Plays like this one have no place in the game of hockey and players who do this deserve to be suspended for their actions. I just hope the NHL fan base doesn't give the Minnesota Wild a bad name now because of this one player. This does not represent the organization, or the rest of the players on the roster.

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

I don't think people realize how many games and times that Matt Cooke has been suspended by the NHL. Here's a break down of Cooke's illustrious history and the number of games that he ended up sitting as a result of his bush league play. Like I said in another post, "I also have to wonder if the NHL's Department of Player head Brendan Shanahan already has Chuck Fletcher's cell phone number in is speed dial?" I think it's just a matter of time before Cooke is suspended again by the NHL.

2013/07/05 Signed as an unrestricted free agent by the Minnesota Wild to a three-year contract.

2011/04/27 Missed the last 10 games of the regular season and 7 playoff games (suspension). (17)

2011/03/21 Suspended by the NHL for the remainder of the season and the first round of the playoffs.

2011/02/20 Missed 4 games (suspension). (4)

2011/02/09 Suspended by the NHL for four games.

2009/12/04 Missed 2 games (suspension). (2)

2009/11/29 Suspended by the NHL for two games.

2009/01/31 Missed 2 games (suspension). (2)

2009/01/27 Suspended by the NHL for 2 games.

2004/02/21 Suspended by the NHL for 2 games. (2) [TSN.CA]Bellow, is a typical Matt Cooke play that happened during the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

This hit by Matt Cooke has cause a stir tonight with his leg check on Tyson Barrie. First, it's not a good hit, and I think Cooke is going to end up getting suspended for this hit. I think that league has to suspend him based on his history. But I guess we will have to wait and see.

Let's be clear, I also don't approve of this hit, but Cooke has cleaned his act up and this is one of his first questionable hits of the season for the Wild agitator.

Sunday, March 30, 2014

I am not a fan of Brooks Orpik, not at all. He will lay people out with huge hits that seem to always be in the grey area. He'll layout a star player and not answer the bell when challenged. That's my biggest problem with this guy. This hit is right on the edge. It could go either way. I am not a fan of either team. I have no dog in this fight.

But look at it this way. If someone hit Wayne Gretzky or Sidney Crosby this way, what would happen to that player in question. It Wild forward Matt Cooke hit Jonathan Toews with this hit, would he be getting a call from the Department of Player Safety?

Still not convinced?

Let me put it to you this way. I am sure that if the Bruins forward Milan Lucic hit Sidney Crosby like that Penguins fan's would be fine with that hit, right? I am sure they would be.... Right? They wouldn't be screaming for a suspension, right? Of course not. I am not saying that Brooks deserves to be suspended by the NHL. He won't be. The next time someone takes a run at Crosby, remember this hit.

Saturday, October 12, 2013

Buffalo Sabres puke Patrick Kaleta has been suspended by the National Hockey League's department of Player Safety, pending a hearing for this dirty hit on Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Jack Johnson. Kaleta is a repeat offender, having been suspended a couple of times, so I expect him to get at least a 2-3 game suspension for this hit.

From the NHL.COM --- At 3:10 of the first period, Kaleta collided with Columbus defenseman Jack Johnson near the boards just inside the Buffalo zone. No penalty was assessed for that hit, but Kaleta received a fighting major after engaging with the Blue Jackets' Jared Boll after the hit. Johnson remained in the game.

The following grounds are being considered for supplemental discipline: illegal check to the head. However, the Department of Player Safety retains the right to make adjustments to the infraction upon review.

These are the kind of hits that are very dangerous, there's no excuse for these types of hits. Kaleta targeted Jack Johnson's head. This time, the "hockey code" worked the way it's supposed to. I applaud Jared Boll for sticking up for his teammate. You have these "rats" like Kaleta that skate up and down the ice throwing these dangerous hits and then they don't want to fight. In my opinion, Kaleta got what was coming to him. You want to stop these types of hits in hockey? Make the suspensions for hits like this 10-games. If suspension can taper Matt Cooke's dirty hits a few stiff suspensions can curb the behaviors of the other "rats" in the NHL.

Friday, October 04, 2013

I am actually surprised that Matt Cookes' shot off of the foot counted as a goal.

At 1:04 of the first period in the Kings/Wild game, video review confirmed the referee's call on the ice that Kyle Brodziak's shot deflected off Matt Cooke's skate and into the net in a legal fashion. The determining factor was that the speed of the puck propelled it into the net and that Cooke's skate only redirected it. According to Rule 49.2 "A puck that deflects into the net off an attacking player's skate who does not use a distinct kicking motion is a legitimate goal." Good goal Minnesota.

Monday, September 16, 2013

I am sure we're going to see a bunch of these types of articles leading up to the season. Needless to say, I am not all that thrilled about him being a member of the Minnesota Wild.

Jess Myers, 1500ESPN.com -- "He was pretty dirty," Parise said. "He got under your skin, and he's got that ability to take your focus off the game and off scoring goals, and he puts your focus on him. That's a good trait to have, and that's a good player for us to have."

A quick check of Cooke's online bio shows nearly as many NHL suspensions for dirty and dangerous plays as trips to the playoffs. It also shows a Stanley Cup ring that Cooke won with the Penguins (who had an assistant coach named Mike Yeo back then) in 2009. Still, over the summer when the Wild inked Cooke to a free agent pact, the reaction of some fans was akin to announcing that a tried and true goon like Ulf Samuelsson, or Todd Bertuzzi or Chris Simon (again) would be wearing green and red.

"I understand their reaction. I don't blame them for it, and they're entitled to it," said Cooke on Sunday. "But I'm a different player now, and somehow, some way, with this being the State of Hockey, I believe if for some reason I was on this side doing the same things, they'd be loving me. So I ask for patience, and hopefully after three or four shifts their opinions will change."

There are not many former WCHA or college hockey players on the Minnesota Wild’s Development Camp Roster. There’s a grand total of seven. Also on the roster is former Fighting Sioux hockey recruit Miles Koules. [Click to view]

Saturday, July 06, 2013

Yesterday, my good buddy Redwing77 pinged me on Twitter to let me know that the Wild had picked up Penguins d-bag Matt Cooke. I was in the process of picking my daughter up from daycare, so I hadn't been paying attention very closely. So, he confirmed one of my biggest fears. The Wild had picked up the Penguins unrestricted free agent Matt Cooke. I also have to wonder if the NHL's Department of Player head Brendan Shanahan already has Chuck Fletcher's cell phone number in is speed dial?

To all of those people out there that say, "oh, you're going to learn to love this guy." There's no way; there's not a snow balls chance in hell, that I will ever come to love or respect this worthless piece of crap. Never! There is no way to justify this signing, what-so-ever. Again, this is a very bad signing by the Minnesota Wild.

With the Cooke signing, the Wild's star players are going to have open season on them now. The first time Cooke runs around and starts hitting people from behind or catches someone with a questionable hit and he won't drop the gloves, someone is going to run Zach Parise or another star player from the Wild. Mike Rupp is going to be extra busy having to defend this clown.

Here's what the Wild GM had to say on signing the gutless puke Matt Cooke.

Michael Russo, Star Tribune -- Fletcher called Cooke the ideal third-line winger — blocks shots, has scored 12-19 goals in seven of his 12 full seasons despite little power-play time, “angles well, cycles well, is good along the wall,” skates well and has played more than 1,000 regular-season and playoff games.

He won a Stanley Cup with Wild coach Mike Yeo as Pittsburgh’s assistant in 2009. Still, because of his reputation, some Wild fans voiced shock and vitriol at the signing on social media — a similar reaction to when former Wild GM Doug Risebrough traded for Chris Simon in 2008.

“Matt is a player that brings a lot to the table,” Fletcher said. “I think when everybody watches him as a player and focuses in on what he is now as a player versus what his reputation is as a player, I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised of what you see.”

Again, there is only one way to deal with a player like Matt Cooke, insert Evander Kane.

Matt Cooke, more famous for ending careers than winning games, signed a 3 year contract with the Minnesota Wild.

Ok, the upside to this: Matt Cooke is a big hitting forward that is an obvious replacement of Cal Clutterbuck. He has been on winning teams in the past. He can score goals on occasion. He was nominated for the Masterton and lost to current Wild Josh Harding.

The downside? This is a player that is almost universally reviled. I say almost because the Pens fans still defend him for the same reason, invariably, that Wild fans will inevitably defend him: He's on your team. Another downside? He's one blindside Savard-esque hit from being McSorley'd. This guy skates on thin ice everywhere he goes.

CORRECTION: 3 years $7.5 million contract or $2.5 million a year. THAT, my friends, is OVERPAYING worse than Stalberg's new contract.

He did have a decent year last year blocking shots but then again, someone had to because Marc Andre Sievry couldn't.

Trust me when I say it: This was a BAD idea. If the Wild really did want Cooke's services, they should have gone for a 1 year contract with a club option (if that's possible) for a second year. He may have only had 36 PIM in 48 games last season, but he's still one of the most if not the most dangerous skater in the NHL and that's saying something (as a Red Wings fan who couldn't defend the Wings' signing Bertuzzi).

Chad Graff (@ChadGraff) on Twitter said it best: The Wild traded 1 year contract of Devon Setoguchi for 1 2nd round pick and 3 years of Matt Cooke.